Economic policies impact different segments of the population, including men and women, in different ways. In turn, gender inequalities impact on trade policy outcomes and economic growth. Taking into account gender perspectives in macro-economic policy, including trade policy, is essential to pursuing inclusive and sustainable development and to achieving fairer and beneficial outcomes for all.

UNCTAD plays a key role in ensuring that gender considerations are incorporated in a meaningful way in trade policies. Through its work programme on Trade, Gender and Development, UNCTAD supports its member countries in:

assessing the distinct effect of economic policies, especially trade policy, on men and women, boys and girls; identifying gender-based constraints that impede inclusive development; and devising strategies and policy measures to overcome them.

mainstreaming gender into trade policy through the inclusion of gender considerations in policy formulation and implementation, and in the negotiations of trade and other agreements at the multilateral, regional and bilateral levels.

Twenty-five researchers from 16 countries in sub-Saharan Africa have taken part in an UNCTAD regional workshop on trade and gender analysis. The event was hosted by the North-West University in Potchefstroom, South Africa, on 15-19 June, and funded by the Government of Finland.

Sixty-six participants from forty countries successfully completed the first edition of UNCTAD's online course on trade and gender, held from 19 January to 8 March 2015. All participants agreed the course had met or exceeded their expectations and enhanced their knowledge of the trade-gender links.

Partner stock exchanges from the UNCTAD co-organized Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative ring their opening or closing bells in support of gender equality and to highlight the pivotal role of the private sector in empowering women in the workplace, marketplace and community.

To celebrate International Women's Day, UNCTAD presented two products on trade and gender which emphasize the importance of trade and development policies as powerful instruments to tackle gender inequalities.